Mobile workstation

ABSTRACT

An improved wireless mobile workstation is provided. The workstation has a wheeled chassis, an adjustable base frame coupled to the chassis and a lower housing and an upper housing attached to the frame, and a work surface supported above the upper housing. The upper housing includes a computing device and document storage area, and the lower housing contains a portable, rechargeable power supply for powering the computing device. A vertical upright portion extends above the upper housing for supporting a display screen coupled with the computing device. Operation input devices such a mouse and keyboard are located on the work surface for interfacing with the computing device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a workstation, and more particularly, to a mobile wireless computer workstation including a rechargeable power supply, a wireless computer powered by the power supply, an internal document storage area and a substantially flat work surface providing a work area, keyboard area and a mouse area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile computer workstations are particularly well-suited to medical care environments, such as hospitals, doctors' offices, and nursing homes where they offer a great advantage by replacing the conventional clipboard hanging from a patient's bed frame or examination table. Present workstations, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,178 B1, include a wireless laptop computer or a wireless personal computer, a portable power supply, a wheeled platform and a work surface. Such wireless computer workstations are typically used to post and retrieve the information that was traditionally posted on the bed-side clipboard, such as the patient's prescriptions, vital signs, receipt of medications, scheduled tests, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved computer workstation including a wheeled chassis, a stand coupled with the chassis, an upper compartment coupled to the stand for containing a personal computer and a lower compartment coupled to the stand for containing a rechargeable power unit. A work surface is supported above the upper compartment along with a display screen that is operatively connected with the computer. One or more operator input devices, such a computer mouse, track ball, keyboard and like, for interfacing with the computer is provided and supported by the work surface.

In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a workstation including coupling a compartment with a chassis, locating a computing device adjacent to a first lateral side of the compartment and a document storage member adjacent to a second lateral side of the compartment. A work surface is attached to a top side of the compartment. Additionally, a computer display screen is coupled to the work surface and operatively connected to the computer display screen with a computing device. One or more operator input devices are supported on the work surface and operatively connected to the computing device.

In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to a workstation including a moveable chassis and upper and lower compartments coupled with the chassis. The upper compartment includes a battery-powered computing device, and the lower compartment includes a rechargeable power unit operatively connected with the computing device. A work surface is supported above the upper compartment along with a display screen operatively connected with the computing device. In addition, one or more operator input devices are supported by the work surface and operatively connected with the computing device for interfacing with the computing device.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a workstation including a wheeled chassis and an elongate support coupled with the chassis, the support having an adjustable height. A first enclosure is coupled with an upper end of the support, the first enclosure including a bottom panel, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel and a back panel. A second enclosure is coupled with a lower end of the support, the second enclosure including a bottom side, a front side, a back side, opposing lateral sides and a top side. A work surface is supported by the first enclosure, along with a display screen support member supported above the work surface.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of inputting and storing data including providing a workstation, obtaining data, and inputting the data into a computing device supported within the work station by manipulating one or more operator input devices operatively connected with the computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front of a mobile workstation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rear of the workstation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded, rear perspective view of a lower compartment of the workstation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the workstation of the of FIG. 1 with the back panel and wall of the upper and lower compartments, respectively, removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the workstation of FIG. 1 with the work surface removed and front wall of the upper compartment exploded away.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of the work surface of the workstation of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A mobile workstation in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, where like features of the invention share like numbering. The apparatus depicted therein generally includes a wheeled chassis 10, a lower compartment 12 for housing a power unit, an adjustable stand 14, an upper compartment 16 supported by stand 14 for housing a computing device and a work surface 18.

More particularly, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, chassis 10 comprises a flat, substantially rectangular base 20 having two pairs of wheel assemblies 22 connected with the underside of base 20. Wheel assemblies 22 are connected at the respective corners of base 20 in order to provide a wide, stable mobile foundation upon which the work station can be supported and moved about by an operator, for example, a physician desiring to move the work station between patient rooms. A front edge 24 of base 20 protrudes outwardly a short distance to provide a ledge upon which the operator can place his feet when sitting at the workstation or for moving the workstation across a surface.

Supported directly on top of base 20 is lower compartment 12. Compartment 12 forms a rectangular enclosure defined by base 20, a rectangular front panel 26, a rectangular rear panel 28, a rectangular top panel 30 and substantially rectangular opposing side panels 32 and 34. Front panel 26, rear panel 28 and opposing side panels 32 and 34 are permanently fixed to base 20 with top panel 30 being detachably supported by the upper edges of front panel 26 and rear panel 28. This way top panel 30 can be removed or raised to provide access within compartment 12. Each of side panels 32 and 34, on the other hand, has a curved or convexly-shaped top edge 36 that extends a distance beyond top panel 30 to form a handle 38. An opening is formed through each handle 38 to allow the operator to grasp handles 38 for picking up the workstation when traversing stairs and the like or for moving the workstation across a floor.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, housed within lower compartment 12 is a power unit for powering a computing device. The power unit includes a plug 42 and cord 44 for electrically coupling the power unit to a conventional 120 volt wall outlet for charging the power unit. Cord 44 is housed in a medical grade cord reel 46 and is accessible through an access hole 48 in rear panel 28. When charging the power unit, plug 42 and cord 44 are pulled through access hole 48 and plug 42 inserted into the wall outlet. When charging is completed, plug 42 is detached from the outlet and cord 44 retracted into reel 46 for storing. The power unit further includes a fuse box 50 containing fuses that are electrically coupled with cord 44, a pair of battery chargers 52 such as UL 60101-1 listed battery chargers and an electric bus bar 54 for connecting DC voltage equipment to a lead acid battery 56 such as an absorbed glass matt type lead-acid battery of 100 amp-hours. Preferably, reel 46, fuse box 50 and bus bar 54 are attached to front panel 26 and battery chargers 52 and battery 56 are supported directly on base 20. By housing the power unit within lower compartment 12, the workstation forms stable platform having a low center of gravity. As a result, the workstation is less likely to be accidentally tipped over and is more easily moved across a floor.

Extending upward from the center of base 20 through a rectangular-shaped hole 29 in top panel 30 is stand 14. Stand 14 can be any type of stand or support known in the art, for example, a hydraulically actuated stand or a manually actuated one. Preferably, stand 14 is manually actuated including a lower portion 58 bolted to base 20 and an upper portion 60 slideably fitted within lower portion 58. By manipulating a pin member 62 on lower portion 58 that interacts with upper portion 60, the length of stand 14 can be adjusted to provide up to more than 11 inches of vertical range which can allow a user to comfortably utilize the workstation while standing or sitting.

Supported atop upper portion 60 of stand 14 is upper compartment 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, compartment 16 includes a rectangular bottom wall 64 bolted to upper portion 56 of stand 14. Bottom wall 64 forms a solid base upon which rectangular opposing lateral walls 66 and 68 are supported that, in combination with a rectangular rear wall 70, a rectangular front wall 71 and work surface 18, form a rectangular enclosure. Front wall 71 is permanently fixed to and between bottom wall 64, work surface 18 and lateral walls 66 and 68 to prevent access within upper compartment through the front thereof. Rear wall 70, on the other hand, is divided into a fixed portion 73 and a hinged portion 75. Hinged portion 75 is provided to allow limited access within upper compartment 16 through the rear thereof. Additionally, a ledge 77 is provided on the exterior surface of front wall 71 for storing pencils, pens, computer discs and the like.

Supported within the enclosure of upper compartment 16 are a computing device 72 device and a document storage member 74. Preferably, computing device 72 is a mini personal computer such as a Mini-ITX, standard 12 volt DC personal computer with an integrated PCI card wireless LAN with 7 Db gain antenna and video card with 64 MB dedicated memory capable of 1400×900 pixel resolution. Computing device 72 is located adjacent to hinged portion 75 of rear wall 70 to provide access to computing device through rear wall 70. Thus, for example, to remove or replace computing device 72, hinged portion of rear wall 70 is simply pivoted downward exposing computing device 72 for removal. Further access to computing device 72 is provided by the formation a slot 76 through lateral wall 66 which is configured to align with one or more of a disc receiving portion and a power switch of computing device 72. This way, computing device 72 can be switched on and off by an operator by simply accessing the computing device power switch through slot 76. Likewise, the disc drive of computing device 72 can be easily accessed by an operator by inserting and removing a disc such a floppy disc or CD-ROM though slot 76. To provide further access to computing device 72, a notch 78 can also be provided through hinged portion 75 of rear wall 70 to allow the passage of cords and other type of connectors that may be required to connect with computing device 72, for example, for connecting with the power unit or a high gain antenna 79. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is preferred that computing device 72 and the power unit are electrically connected by lines housed within and extending through stand 14 and between compartments 14 and 16.

Located adjacent to computing device 72 and fixed portion 73 of rear wall 70 is document storage member 74. Storage member 74 is housed adjacent to fixed portion 73 in order to prevent access to storage member 74 from the back of the workstation which prevents the likelihood of any documents and things stored within storage member 74 from accidentally falling out of storage member 74 and upper compartment 16. Storage member 74 is comprised of a series of substantially flat, members 80 positioned in parallel to form spaces therebetween for receiving papers and the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, members 80 extend through a series of slots in lateral wall 68 and are angled downwardly to provide reliable storage of any documents stored therein. Accordingly, documents can be easily inserted and removed through the slots in lateral wall 68 and into and from the spaces formed between members 80. Further, because members 80 are angled downwardly, documents and things stored in storage member 74 are less likely to accidentally fall out of the spaces formed between members 80.

Supported atop and fixed to opposing lateral walls 66 and 68, fixed portion 73 of rear wall 70 and front wall 71 is work surface 18. As illustrated in FIG. 6, work surface 18 is essentially rectangularly shaped and has a surface area greater than bottom wall 64. As a result, work surface 18 overhangs bottom wall 64 of compartment 16. In particular, a substantially straight front edge 82 of work surface 18 extends a distance beyond front wall 71 and ledge 77 of wall 71 while lateral edges 84 of work surface 18 extend a distance beyond opposing lateral walls 66 and 68. Lateral edges 84 are curved or convexly shaped to form handles 86 having openings therethrough or depressions for allowing an operator to grasp the workstation when carrying or moving the workstation across a floor.

Work surface 18 provides a large, substantially flat top surface 87 upon which an operator can work, store documents and things and support the accessories required to interface with computing device 72. Exemplary computing device accessories for interfacing with computing device 72 can include a computer mouse 88, a key board 90, a recording device 92 such as a digital Dictaphone and a computer display 94. To support display 94, there is provided a monitor support 96 that connects with and extends upwardly from the rear of work surface 18. Depressions can be formed within top surface 87 for receiving the various computer interface accessories. Preferably there is provided a first depression 98 shaped to receive and hold mouse 88 and a second depression 100 shaped to receive and hold recording device 92. The depths of respective depressions 98 and 100 are less than the height of mouse 88 and recording device 92, respectively, so that mouse 88 and device 92 can be easily removed therefrom and used. Alternatively, mouse 88 can include a track ball in which event mouse 88 is fixed within depression 98 to prevent its removal therefrom. Preferably, holes 102 are formed through depressions 98 and 100 for operatively coupling computing device 72 with mouse 88 and recording device 92. This way the cords used to couple mouse 88 and device 92 with computing device 72 do not clutter work surface 18 and are efficiently stored within upper compartment 16 when mouse 88 and device 92 are not in use and are stored in depressions 98 and 100, respectively.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the claims below. 

1. A mobile workstation comprising: a movable chassis and a compartment supported by the chassis, the compartment including a front, a back, a computing device accessible through a first lateral side of the compartment and a document storage member accessible through a second lateral side of the compartment.
 2. The workstation according to claim 1 wherein the first lateral side includes a slot aligned with a disc receiving portion of the computing device.
 3. The workstation according to claim 1 wherein the document storage member includes a plurality of document receiving spaces accessible through a plurality of slots in the second lateral side, each of the document receiving spaces being separated and aligned with a respective slot.
 4. The workstation according to claim 1 further wherein the compartment is not accessible through the front.
 5. The workstation according to claim 1 wherein the compartment includes a back side including a first section and a second section, the second section being hingedly coupled with the compartment and located adjacent to the computing device.
 6. The workstation according to claim 1 wherein the compartment further includes a top side forming a work surface, the work surface including one or more recesses adapted and arranged for receiving one or more operator input devices operatively connected with the computing device.
 7. The workstation according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the one or more recesses includes an opening through the top side for operatively connecting the one or more operator input devices with the computing device.
 8. The workstation according to claim 1 further comprising a work surface and computer display screen supported above the upper compartment and one or more operator input devices for interfacing with the computing device directly supported by the work surface.
 9. A method of manufacturing the workstation according to claim 8 comprising, coupling the compartment with the chassis, locating the computing device adjacent to the first lateral side of the compartment and the document storage member adjacent to the second lateral side of the compartment, attaching the work surface to a top side of the compartment, coupling the computer display screen to the work surface and operatively connecting the computer display screen with the computing device, and locating the one or more operator input devices on the work surface and operatively connecting the one or more operator input devices with the computing device.
 10. A workstation comprising: a moveable chassis, an upper compartment coupled with the chassis, the upper compartment including a front and a battery-powered computing device, a lower compartment coupled with the chassis, the lower compartment including a rechargeable power unit operatively connected with the computing device, a work surface supported above the upper compartment, a display screen operatively connected with the computing device and supported above the work surface, and one or more operator input devices supported by the work surface and operatively connected with the computing device for interfacing with the computing device.
 11. The workstation according to claim 10 wherein the distance between the upper compartment and the lower compartment is adjustable.
 12. The workstation according to claim 10 wherein the upper compartment includes a slot aligned with a disc receiving slot and power switch of the computing device.
 13. The workstation according to claim 12 wherein the front of the upper compartment is enclosed.
 14. The work station according to claim 10 wherein the upper compartment includes a document storage area accessible through a plurality of horizontally aligned slots in the upper compartment.
 15. The workstation according to claim 10 wherein the work surface includes one or more recesses adapted and arranged for receiving the one or more operator input devices.
 16. The workstation according to claim 10 wherein the work surface includes a first depression extending adjacent to a first lateral side of the work surface and a second depression extending adjacent to a second lateral side of the work surface, the first and second depressions forming handles for moving the work station across a surface.
 17. A workstation comprising: a wheeled chassis, an elongate support coupled with the chassis, the support having an adjustable height, a first enclosure coupled with an upper end of the support, the first enclosure including a bottom panel, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel and a back panel, a second enclosure coupled with a lower end of the support, the second enclosure including a bottom side, a front side, a back side, opposing lateral sides and a top side, a work surface supported by the first enclosure, and a display screen support member supported above the work surface.
 18. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the first enclosure is pivotally coupled with the elongate support.
 19. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the work surface includes a first depression having a length of at least about 3.5 inches located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the work surface and a second depression of at least about 3.5 inches located adjacent to a second lateral edge of the work surface.
 20. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the work surface includes a first opening having a length of at least about 3.5 inches located adjacent to a first lateral edge of the work surface and a second opening of at least about 3.5 inches located adjacent to a second lateral edge of the work surface.
 21. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein each of the opposing lateral sides of the second enclosure includes an opening having a length of at least about 3.5 inches located adjacent to an upper edge of the opposing lateral side.
 22. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the first enclosure contains a computing device, the second enclosure contains a power unit electrically coupled with the computing device and the display screen support member is directly connected with a display screen electrically coupled with the computing device.
 23. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the elongate support is directly connected with the bottom side of the second enclosure and extends upward through an opening in the top side of the second enclosure.
 24. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the front panel of the first enclosure is solid and fixed to the first enclosure for preventing access into the first enclosure.
 25. The workstation according to claim 17 wherein the work surface includes one or more recesses adapted and arranged for receiving one or more operator input devices.
 26. A method of inputting and storing data comprising, providing the workstation according to claim 22, obtaining data, and inputting the data into the computing device by manipulating one or more operator input devices operatively connected with the computing device. 